You'd think I'd have done this sooner, yeah?
Considering that I translate BoC all the time, and this was the song that introduced me to the band, and all...
But better late than never, right?
"KARMA"
by BUMP OF CHICKEN (from the kanji here.)
A single glass sphere was dropped;
Chasing it, another one fell.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Only one remains.
At the time their hearts begin,
Though it's unpleasant, people take their places.
And so that they can't be stolen away,
They continue to protect them.
Though I tried to keep them clean,
My hands still appear stained.
Before I can doubt my memory,
My memory doubts me.
I'm sure that the two of us will meet,
Using the sound of our shared heartbeats as a signal.
I'm right here, always calling out.
When all the worn-out reasons pile up and sway,
You'll understand the meaning of having been born.
For as long as your existence continues,
Because there's no other choice, you'll take your place.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Two can't quite fit.
A single glass sphere was dropped;
When it fell, something was forced out.
In the place it had stolen,
it bathed in the light.
You've counted things like your footprints,
And you realize that it's only with numbers
That the things you really need to know
Are somehow between one and zero.
We will meet for the first time,
Using the banner of our shared cries as a signal.
Don't forget, I'm always calling out.
When the two of us bury the piled-up reasons
Promises will be exchanged.
We are like mirrors,
One for the other,
For the sake of reflecting each other's karma.
We touch, stained hand to hand,
And understand its form.
I am here
I can surely be touched.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Both of us exist.
Don't forget, I'm always calling out.
Because we came from the inside of the same glass sphere.
That's right, I'm sure that the two of us will meet.
When we raise the cross over your sunken reasons,
The promise will be fulfilled
We will become one.
As always, may be edited with further translations.
--Oh, and I got a haircut.
But better late than never, right?
"KARMA"
by BUMP OF CHICKEN (from the kanji here.)
A single glass sphere was dropped;
Chasing it, another one fell.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Only one remains.
At the time their hearts begin,
Though it's unpleasant, people take their places.
And so that they can't be stolen away,
They continue to protect them.
Though I tried to keep them clean,
My hands still appear stained.
Before I can doubt my memory,
My memory doubts me.
I'm sure that the two of us will meet,
Using the sound of our shared heartbeats as a signal.
I'm right here, always calling out.
When all the worn-out reasons pile up and sway,
You'll understand the meaning of having been born.
For as long as your existence continues,
Because there's no other choice, you'll take your place.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Two can't quite fit.
A single glass sphere was dropped;
When it fell, something was forced out.
In the place it had stolen,
it bathed in the light.
You've counted things like your footprints,
And you realize that it's only with numbers
That the things you really need to know
Are somehow between one and zero.
We will meet for the first time,
Using the banner of our shared cries as a signal.
Don't forget, I'm always calling out.
When the two of us bury the piled-up reasons
Promises will be exchanged.
We are like mirrors,
One for the other,
For the sake of reflecting each other's karma.
We touch, stained hand to hand,
And understand its form.
I am here
I can surely be touched.
In the sunlit place meant for one,
Both of us exist.
Don't forget, I'm always calling out.
Because we came from the inside of the same glass sphere.
That's right, I'm sure that the two of us will meet.
When we raise the cross over your sunken reasons,
The promise will be fulfilled
We will become one.
As always, may be edited with further translations.
--Oh, and I got a haircut.